About Us

We are a group of researchers affiliated with Health Sociology at the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS), Johannesburg, South Africa. We received an NRF Rapid Grant Fund to generate an inter-disciplinary, in-depth situational analysis of the impact of South Africa’s healthcare response to the COVID-19 global pandemic. 

The NRF project follows from the research team’s Rapid Research, Evaluation and Appraisal Lab (RREAL) COVID-19 South Africa study that documented selected stakeholders’ responses to the COVID-19 outbreak. The NRF project advances the RREAL-SA study. It analyses the extent to which COVID-19 responses address the psycho-social, socio-economic, and health needs of vulnerable people and communities during this time. 

Our research project produces sociological knowledge on social life through the pandemic and its aftermaths, particularly among vulnerable communities. It aims to develop broad recommendations for future health policy and practice and research into health system inclusivity and preparedness. The symposium also strives towards developmental objectives such as research training, capacity building, and stakeholder engagement.